Brake-equalizer.



F. RICHARD.

BRAKE EQUALlZER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1911.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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W x M i 2% M W1 0 O O O O F. RICHARD.

BRAKE EQUALIZIER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. um.

- Patented Dec. 31', 1918.

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Patented Dec. 31,1918;

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FRAIN'QOIS BIC'EHARD, OF CLEVELAND, OHI

0, ASSIGNOR T0 THE RICHARD AUTU MFG.

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. Application filed April 12, 1917. serial Ego.

My invention pertains to a brake equalizer adapted for controlling the appliance of the braking efiect upon the hind wheels of an automobile.

The object held inview is to contrive automatically operating mechanism which, in

response to foot pedal or hand lever actuation, will equalize the pressure applied to the brake drum associated with each of the rear wheels; thereby increasing not only the eficacy but the life of the structure and at the same time, by making the actiqn more uniform, easing the riding qualities of the superstructure of the car whenever it becomes necessary to apply the brakes.

taken on median line With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel con-y struction, combination and arrangement of parts as herelnafte'r more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Adverting to the drawings:

Figure .l is a top plan view of an automobile chassis embodying my invention.

Fig. H is a side elevation of Fig. I.

Fig. H1 is an enlarged plan of a forward portion of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a vertical section on line IV-1V of Fig. llll looking forwardly.

Fig. V is a still further enlarged section on line V-V'of Fig. ll.

Fig. V1 is a relatively transverse section Vl-Vf of Fig. V.

In Figs. 1 and H, I have shown the major portion of an automobile frame 1 supported.

in part from a rear axle housing 2 which in turn carries near each end the conventional type of brake drum 3. Inasmuch as Specification of Letters Patent.

useful Improvement in Patented Dec. er, rare. 161,530(

nothing new is claimed for the brake as such nor the character of its friction surfaces, no further description thereof will be made other than to mention the assumption that aninterior and exterior frictional engagement is to be accomplished, in the one case by a hand lever and in the other by means ofa foot pedall--. lt should beremembered, hat such invention is associated merely with the control mechanism by means of whichthe braking efiect is accomplished so that its severity of action may be more nearly uniform in its .exercise upon each of the drums 3 consonantly, no detailed description will be given other than to state that one pair of actuating levers 4 are adapted to be moved by a foot pedal and another pair of levers 5 are adapted to be moved upon manipulation of another lever accessible to the driver. As is common in the art the levers 4 articulate with a pair of forwardly extending rods 6, whereas the levers 5, similarly articulate'with another pair of forwardly extending rods 7. As may be seen by inspection of Fig. H the rods 6 slope upwardly in a forward direction whereas the rods 7 slope slightly downward in a forward direction. llhe rods 6 articulate at their forward extremities with arms 8 fixed to the remote ends of a pair of axially alined shafts 9 and 10. Each of the rods 7 articulates at its front end with an arm 11, likewise fixed at remote ends of a pair of axially alined shafts l2 and 13. The shafts 9 and 12 are longer than the shafts 10 and 13, which is necessitated by reason of the fact that they extend across the frame to nearly abut the inner endsof the shafts 10 and 13 near one side of the frame. inasmuch asthe structure which features the present invention is identical for both the ordinary foot brake and the emergency hand former will be described in detail, according to the disclosure of Figs. If and ill and more especially Figs. V and VI. Let it sufice therefore merely to add that the hand lever 14: is operatively connected by means of an adjustable link 15 with a part 16 which is shown in Fig. H and which is to be considered as operatively connected after the manner of my invention so as to efi'ect the partial-rotation of the shafts 12 and 13.

The shaft 9 is supported in bearings 17 operated brake, only the I l and 18. The shaft is supported adjacent of the shafts the near arm 8 by a bearing 19. Inclos ing the adjacent ends of the shafts 9 and 10 is a housing composed of complementary parts and 21 held together by a series of circumferentially arranged bolts 22 and designed to form in conjunction with each other, at their tops, an opening 23. Inte riorly-of the housing is a common sleeve 24 adapted to support the nearly abutting ends 9 and lO. Such sleeve is pro vided with an upwardly projecting journal 25 which extends through the opening 23 and carries interiorly an idler gear 26. The exterior end of the journal articulates with a forwardly extending rod 27 which in turn articulates with a foot pedal 28 having a fixed pivot at 29. A pair of members 30 and 31 are positioned interiorly of the houstend to draw the same in a tion and consequently also the rods 6 and the rod 27. Aswill be readily understood ment 34 and 35 respectively,

ing so .as to abut against opposite sides of the sleeve 24 and are clamped to the shafts 9 and 10 respectvely by'lmeans of key bolts 32 and 33 respectively. .Each of the members 30 and 31 is fashioned with a gear segeach adapted to mesh with the idler 26 whereby any movement communicated to the latter will con-. trive to equalize the partial rotation or rocking of the shafts 9 and 10 in a given direc-. tion. Springs 36 connect each of the levers 4 with the rear axle housing and normally rearward direcby those skilled in the art a depression of the foot, pedal 28'will overcome the action of the springs 36, and in so doing move the rod 27 in a forward direction. In consequence the journal 25 and hence the housing will have rotatory motion imparted to them, the idler 26 in the meantime transmitting .mounted on said journal such movement to the the manner of a differential action.

I claim 1. brake equalizer comprising the combination with wheels, brakes for controlling the'rotation of each wheel, a housing composed of complementary parts and forming in conjunction with each other. an opening perpendicular to the axes of said bearings, a pair of axially alined shafts operatlvely connected with said brakes respectively, said shafts being mounted in said bearings and projecting into said housing, a journal mounted in said perpendicular opening and projecting into said housing, a pinion mounted on said journal interiorly of said housing so as to be revoluble about the axes of said shafts, a pair of toothed members fixed to said shafts respectively and in mesh with said pinion, and means for revolving said housing.

2. A brake equalizer comprising the combination with a vehicle having a pair of wheels, brakes for controlling the rotation of each wheel, a housing, a pair of axially alined shafts operatively connected with said brakesrespectively and terminating with said housing, a common bearing sleeve within said housing for near ends of said shafts, said sleeve being provided with a journal mounted in said housing, gear segments fixed to said shafts within said housing and on opposite sides of said sleeve respectively, an idler rotatably within said hous ing, and means for moving said journal bodily about the-axes of said shafts.

Signed by me, this 9th day of April, 1917.

FRANCOIS RICHARD.

a vehicle having a pair of having alined bearings gear segments after a pair of 

